Unit 9 Flashcards
____ deplete the ozone layer
CFCs
gas compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, & fluorine, typically used in refrigerants & aerosol propellants (sprays)
Holes in the ozone layer common above the north and south poles are most common because
low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine, which breaks down ozone
At what point of the year do low temperatures create polar stratospheric clouds that lead to the production of free chlorine?
(which breaks down ozone layer at the north & south poles)
at the beginning of the antarctic spring (october)
What environmental treaty banned CFCs?
Montreal Treaty
Type of powerful greenhouse gas combound intended to take the place of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) & chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for vehicle air conditioning
(compound does not deplete ozone layer)
(HFCs) Hydrofluorocarbons
improper disposal of refrigerants & freezers releases…
CFCs
(and other ozone depleting compounds)
Ozone layer depletion causes…
-decreased rate of photosynthesis
-reduced crop & forest yields
-reduced tree seedling growth/survivability (increased susceptibility to harsh weather, diseases & pests)
Why is it predicted that ozone depletion over the poles will be at its worst between 2010 and 2019?
Because ozone takes that long to reach peak atmospheric concentration
about 9 years
What are the main greenhouse gasses?
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane (CH4)
- water vapor (H2O)
- nitrous oxide (Nx)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Natural Atmospheric Greenhouse Gasses: CH4, H2O, Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Vocab word
level of reflectivity of a material
(how much heat a material can reflect off the earth)
Albedo
Material with the highest albedo on land
Snow & Ice
Temperature controls are…
factors that will alter the temp in an area, examples include:
* albedo
* geographic position
* ocean currents
* greenhouse gasses
Water vapor is responsible for about 50% of the green house effect, why does it have such a low GWP?
GWP = Global Warming Potential
Water vapor does not stay in the atmosphere for very long
The greenhouse effect is caused by…
Greenhouse gases absorb Inferared Radiaton from Earth’s surface
Top 3 Compounds with the highest GWP
GWP = Global Warming Potential
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Nitrous Oxide (Nx)
- Methane (CH4)
What makes a greenhouse gas a greenhouse gas?
The gases ability to absorb infrared thermal radiation
greenhouse effect
The primary anthropogenic source for nitrous oxides is
agriculture, (fertilizer use & manure decomposition)
Global climate change is caused by…
excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What causes rising sea levels?
- Expansion of water molecules from ocean warming
- Melting Ice Sheets
1 = primary cause
Higher global temperatures are the originating cause
Effects of Global Warming:
Rising global temperatures
lengthens the season & increase the geographic range of disease-carrying insects
Increased rainfall, flooding & humidity makes more viable areas for vector breeding (breeding occurs more quickly, as eggs hatch faster in hotter climates)
Human Migration
exposes people to viruses that they are not immune to & also displaces coastal populations causing people to migrate to new regions & urban areas bringing diseases
a greenhouse gas that comes only from anthropogenic sources and causes global cooling
CFCs
the most abundant non-anthropogenic greenhouse gas
water vapor
If Earth had no atmosphere, the mean surface temperature would be approximately -15°C. With our present atmosphere, Earth’s mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C, why?
The atmosphere absorbs infrared (thermal) radiation
Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and ????? radiation in the ??????
Global climate change occurs because increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses and infrared radiation in the Troposphere